When it comes to illicit drug use,
Marijuana tends to outrank other substances. This is the most widely used
illicit substance, particularly because it is readily available in most areas.
There is also a rise in the legalization of Marijuana use in certain areas of
the world. This is contributing to a further increase in the smoking and
ingesting of the Marijuana drug.
There is also a major concern among
young adults and adolescents smoking weed and eating edibles that contain
Marijuana. Recent statistics have shown that an
increase in the usage among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders are observed at the moment. The data was
presented by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Among 12th graders,
an estimated 4% use Marijuana products on a daily basis. Many more have smoked
Marijuana in the past.
Testing for Marijuana may be
initiated in students, as well as among adults in the workplace. People often
ask how long Marijuana stays in the system. This allows them to determine how
long a specific type of drug test may show Marijuana use.
Marijuana In The Human Body
Before looking at how long it stays
in your system, it is important to understand how Marijuana acts inside the
human body. This helps with an understanding of where the drug can be detected
in a person’s system. It also helps to understand how long the drug will be
detectable in Cannabis users.
Marijuana users will usually smoke
weed. This can be done through what is known as a “joint” or “bong.” Many
people use THC oil in a vaping device. Dry vapes can be used to smoke Marijuana
pants without the need for turning it into an oil first.
Once ingested, it takes about 15 to
30 minutes to feel the effects of the THC content in Marijuana. This accounts
for people who prefer smoking weed. Ingesting Marijuana through an edible takes
longer before the effects can be felt. With Cannabis consumption, it may take
up to two hours before the full effects become present.
It is the THC content in the
Marijuana that causes a person to experience a psychoactive effect. This may
cause a sense of both well-being and relaxation. Some people describe a “high”
as the time that is slowing down. Chattiness, and altered sensory perception,
and giggling often occurs in people who smoked weed.
Once THC levels decline in the body,
the effects of the weed will start to fade. It generally takes up to three
hours after the last consumption of Marijuana for the effects to fully wear
off.
This, however, does not mean all of
the drugs have been expelled from the body. Here, it is important to consider
THC and its metabolites. The body breaks THC down – it enters the bloodstream
and will often even be reabsorbed. While the THC’s effects wear off, there are
still THC metabolites that remain in the body.
These metabolites can cause
side-effects. Some people have trouble with their sleep after smoking weed or
eating an edible. Memory problems are also very common in people who have
recently consumed these products. These effects can remain present for a couple
of days.
How Long Can Weed Be Detected
There is not a single answer when
asking about the detection times for Marijuana. The Marijuana detection time
tends to vary from one person to the next. A number of factors that influence
the detection of Marijuana need to be taken into consideration. Generally, the
detection window is considered to vary from one day up to 90 days.
For this reason, we need to consider
the individual factors that influence detection times and risks – which can be
divided into two major factors. This includes the test type, as well as certain
personal factors that are unique to the individual.
Types Of Tests
The first factor to be addressed
when asking how long a concentration of THC can be detected in the system is
the type of test that will be conducted. In some cases, drugs of abuse,
including Marijuana, can only be identified in a short period of time.
We take a look at the most common
types of tests that are conducted. These may be used during job interviews, as
well as to assist in the detection of substance use disorders.
Urine Tests
The most common way of testing is to
ask the person for urine samples. These samples will then be analyzed in a
laboratory. They can be used to identify various drugs of abuse. The person may
only test positive for short amounts of time after using weed, as the
metabolites tend to leave urine faster than some of the other body parts.
Detection time varies from three
days up to 30 days, depending on how frequently the user smokes weed. For
occasional users, a urine sample may only provide a positive result if the
person had smoked weed in the past three days.
Other users need to consider the following factors:
·
Moderate
users may have a positive on a urine sample test for up to seven days.
·
Chronic
users may test positive for Marijuana use if a test is done within 15
days.
·
In
heavy users, metabolites of the THC in weed stay present in a urine sample for
up to 30 days.
Thus, when a urine drug test is
done, the patient should consider how much weed they smoke. Chronic users will
be at a higher risk of having Marijuana detected in their system.
Blood Tests
In some cases, blood tests are used
to assist in detecting the presence of Marijuana metabolites in the body. On
average, weed will remain detectable in the blood for up to two days. Thus, the
metabolites of the THC content in weed tend to be eliminated from the blood
faster than with a urine sample.
In the past, cases, where the
metabolites remain detectable in blood for longer periods have been reported.
The maximum recorded time is 25 days. This generally occurs in heavy users –
such as in those suffering from Marijuana abuse.
Saliva Tests
Another option is to perform a
saliva test. Saliva testing is done by asking the patient for a saliva
sample.
The Marijuana metabolites can be
detected in oral fluids for up to 29 days, but there are a few factors that
affect this detection time.
In occasional users, THC
concentrations will generally not be detectable after three days. Sometimes,
eliminating THC happens faster. In such a case, a saliva test may only provide
a positive result within the first day. After this, the detectable THC will not
be present in saliva anymore.
In chronic users, the THC may remain
detectable in saliva samples for up to 29 days.
Hair Tests
A hair test may provide results for
a longer period of time compared to other options. The THC metabolites
may collect in a hair follicle. A follicle test may be conducted. A hair strand
may also be collected for testing purposes.
Only trace amounts of cannabinoids
in hair will be detectable. Still, hair follicle tests can help determine if a
person had recently used weed.
Any amount of THC in hair may remain
there for a period of up to 90 days. This helps in identifying the possibility
of substance abuse in the last three months.
Personal Factors
The specific testing method used is
not the only factor that influences test results. There are a few personal
factors that people need to take into consideration too.
We take a look at some factors that
may affect the time Marijuana remains detectable in a person’s system.
·
Body Mass Index: A person’s weight matters. A smaller, lighter
person may find that the drug metabolizes and is eliminated from their system
faster. A higher body mass might cause a delay in the time it takes for the
body to expel the metabolites of the Cannabis that was used.
·
Age: The body’s metabolism tends to become slower with age. With this in
mind, an older individual may find that the drug remains detectable in their
body for a longer period of time. In a younger person, the elimination of the
drug’s metabolites may happen faster.
·
Gender: A
person’s gender also seems to play a role in the metabolism of weed and its
metabolites.
Apart from these, it is also
important to consider how much the person smokes weed. Heavy users will have
more metabolites in their system. It will also be harder for their system to
effectively eliminate the metabolites. In occasional and infrequent users, weed
will be undetectable within a shorter period of time. In a person who smokes
frequently, it can take several months for the weed to completely leave their
system.
Conclusion
Drug screening for Marijuana is
often a routine part of a job interview. This allows the employer to know who
they are employing Different types of tests may be conducted, with urine
testing being the most common. Marijuana drug tests may provide positive
results for up to 90 days after the person used weed, depending on the type of
test that is being done.
References
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-scope-marijuana-use-in-united-states
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(16)30825-4/fulltext
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(16)30825-4/fulltext
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